It's All A Blur: Exploring Gender Expressive Fashions
Date
2017-05
Authors
Arida, Natalie Victoria
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Gender expressive fashion is a way of dress where individuals can show what gender role they are filling that day. Someone who identifies as gender-fluid may change their role every day because they do not identify with any one sex. Individuals who classify themselves as gender-neutral do not identify with any sex; they can be considered unisex or genderless. An androgynous person exhibits characteristics from both sexes, and this can be shown through gender expression as well as sexual expression. A transgendered individual is someone whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth. Over the past few years there has been an increasing acceptance for these different gender expressions, and with that has come a large fashion movement. Through history different gender expressive fashions have been popular trends with the masses; and through my research I aim to uncover if the current fashion movement will repeat history and fade away or, if this is a new social reality that will forever change gender expression. In order to do this, I will first define four different gender expressions, and then research the historical fashion trends for each category, followed by the current fashion for the different expressions. Thus far in my research I have found that while different gender expressive fashions are trendy with the masses, there also seems to be more of a physiological movement behind it this time. With the increasing acceptance of different genders, people now feel safe to express themselves and experiment with different gender expressions without being judged or hated by society. Future gender expressive fashion may become even more popular, and we may see a new market in the fashion industry.
Description
Keywords
gender neutral, gender fluid, transgender, androgynous, fashion, Honors College
Citation
Arida, N. V. (2017). It's all a blur: Exploring gender expressive fashions (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.